In 2014, the average salary increase for financial executives at private companies is 3.3 percent, an increase from 3.1 percent in 2013. On the public company side, the rate of increase dipped slightly, however, to 3.4 percent from 3.5 percent a year ago.

Nearly 50 percent of financial executives receive some form of stock-based incentive compensation, with 21 percent of the respondents citing stock options and restricted stock/stock units most often.

The growth rate in finance and accounting employees is also improving: At private companies with 250 to 499 employees, the number of finance and accounting employees increased to 8 percent in 2014 from 4 percent in 2013, and those with 500 to 999 employees report an increase in finance and accounting employees to 4 percent from 2 percent one year ago.